US20230313962A1 - Illumination Device for a Motor Vehicle Headlight - Google Patents

Illumination Device for a Motor Vehicle Headlight Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20230313962A1
US20230313962A1 US18/024,570 US202118024570A US2023313962A1 US 20230313962 A1 US20230313962 A1 US 20230313962A1 US 202118024570 A US202118024570 A US 202118024570A US 2023313962 A1 US2023313962 A1 US 2023313962A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
illumination device
slope angle
light
shield
bulb shield
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
US18/024,570
Other versions
US11873961B2 (en
Inventor
Bernhard Mandl
Andreas Hölzl
Johann Steinkellner
Sunjung Park
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ZKW Group GmbH
Original Assignee
ZKW Group GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ZKW Group GmbH filed Critical ZKW Group GmbH
Assigned to ZKW GROUP GMBH reassignment ZKW GROUP GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: STEINKELLNER, JOHANN, Hölzl, Andreas, MANDL, BERNHARD, PARK, SUNJUNG
Publication of US20230313962A1 publication Critical patent/US20230313962A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US11873961B2 publication Critical patent/US11873961B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/40—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
    • F21S41/43—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades characterised by the shape thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F21S41/147—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F21S41/151—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines
    • F21S41/153—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines arranged in a matrix
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F21S41/255—Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F21S41/265—Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F21S41/275—Lens surfaces, e.g. coatings or surface structures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/285—Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24-F21S41/28
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
    • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
    • F21S41/322—Optical layout thereof the reflector using total internal reflection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/65—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on light sources
    • F21S41/663—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on light sources by switching light sources
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
    • G02B3/02—Simple or compound lenses with non-spherical faces
    • G02B3/08—Simple or compound lenses with non-spherical faces with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2102/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
    • F21W2102/10—Arrangement or contour of the emitted light
    • F21W2102/13—Arrangement or contour of the emitted light for high-beam region or low-beam region
    • F21W2102/135—Arrangement or contour of the emitted light for high-beam region or low-beam region the light having cut-off lines, i.e. clear borderlines between emitted regions and dark regions

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an illumination device for a motor vehicle headlight, which illumination device comprises the following:
  • the invention relates to a motor vehicle headlight having at least one illumination device according to the invention.
  • the reduction in volume in the Fresnel lens occurs as a result of a division into annular areas.
  • the thickness is reduced in each of these areas giving the lens a series of annular steps.
  • the angle of refraction is not dependent on the thickness, but rather on the angle between the two surfaces of a lens.
  • the lens therefore retains its optical properties although the image quality is negatively impacted by the step structure, but this does not matter in many applications. Examples of this are illumination beam paths for all types of headlights.
  • the sloping surface of each step can lead to undesired stray light, which can cause problems in many applications, particularly in the motor vehicle headlight industry, in which precise legal requirements have to be met.
  • This object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the slope angle varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge.
  • the first and the second light source are arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device in a motor vehicle headlight.
  • the bulb shield has a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bulb shield is arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device in a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the bulb shield comprises an optically relevant shield edge for producing an asymmetrical cut-off line, wherein the first light module is arranged on an upper side of the bulb shield and cooperates in combination with the optically relevant shield edge of the bulb shield to produce dipped beam distribution.
  • the slope angle varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge in such a way that a change in the slope angle follows a sinusoidal course, wherein the slope angle of each step along a vertical axis which intersects the optical axis of the Fresnel lens has a maximum of the respective step, and wherein the slope angle of each step along a horizontal axis which intersects the optical axis of the Fresnel lens has a minimum of the respective step.
  • the terms used in the following relating to a location or an orientation refer to a correct installation position of the illumination device in question in a motor vehicle headlight.
  • the maximum of the slope angle of the steps increases in a vertical direction starting from the optical axis.
  • the minimum of the slope angle of the steps increases in a horizontal direction starting from the optical axis.
  • the illumination device comprises at least one second light module having at least one light source to produce full beam distribution.
  • the second light module is arranged on a lower side of the bulb shield and helps to produce full beam distribution.
  • the minimum of the slope angle is 1 to 3 degrees along the horizontal axis.
  • the maximum of the slope angle is 3 to 12 degrees, preferably 3 to 6 degrees, in particular 6 degrees, along the vertical axis.
  • the object is also achieved by a motor vehicle headlight having at least one illumination device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary illumination device in a vertical cross section, having a first and a second light module and a projection lens formed as a Fresnel lens, wherein the Fresnel lens has a base body with several steps arranged in a ring,
  • FIG. 2 shows the exemplary illumination device from FIG. 1 in a horizontal cross section
  • FIG. 3 shows a detail view of a step in a cross section
  • FIG. 4 shows the front of the lens.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary illumination device 10 for a motor vehicle headlight, which illumination device 10 comprises a first light module 100 for producing dipped beam distribution having at least one first and one second light source 110 , 120 , wherein the first and the second light source 110 , 120 are arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device 10 in a motor vehicle headlight, as can be seen in FIG. 2 .
  • the first light source 110 is designed to emit light in a first emission direction X 1
  • the second light source 120 is designed to emit light in a second emission direction X 2
  • the first and the second emission direction X 1 , X 2 form an angle W 1 greater than zero degrees to each other, as can also be clearly seen in FIG. 2 .
  • the illumination device 10 comprises a second light module 200 having at least one light source to produce full beam distribution.
  • the illumination device comprises a bulb shield 300 having a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bulb shield 300 is arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device 10 in a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the bulb shield 300 comprises an optically relevant shield edge 310 for producing an asymmetrical cut-off line, wherein the first light module 100 is arranged on an upper side of the bulb shield 300 and cooperates in combination with the optically relevant shield edge 310 of the bulb shield to produce dipped beam distribution.
  • the second light module 200 is arranged on a lower side of the bulb shield 300 and is designed to help to produce full beam distribution.
  • the illumination device 10 comprises a projection lens 400 with an optical axis A, which is designed to image the light that can be produced by the first light module 100 in front of the illumination device 10 , wherein the projection lens 400 is designed as a Fresnel lens, which Fresnel lens has a base body 410 and several annular steps 420 arranged on the base body 410 , which steps 420 are arranged substantially concentrically to one another, as shown, among others, in FIG. 4 .
  • Each step 420 has a main surface 420 a to project the light beams of the at least one light module 100 in front of the illumination device 10 and a sloping surface 420 b extending from the base body 410 to the main surface 420 a , wherein the sloping surface 420 a forms a slope angle W 2 to the optical axis A, and wherein the main surface 420 a and the sloping surface 420 b form a step edge 430 in a common surface section line, as shown in detail in FIG. 3 .
  • the optical axis A shown in FIG. 3 is an axis parallel to the optical axis of the Fresnel lens and is intended to illustrate the formation of the slope angle W 2 .
  • the slope angle W 2 varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge 430 in such a way that a change in the slope angle W 2 follows a sinusoidal course, wherein the slope angle W 2 of each step along a vertical axis V 1 which intersects the optical axis A of the Fresnel lens has a maximum of the respective step, and wherein the slope angle W 2 of each step along a horizontal axis H 1 which intersects the optical axis A of the Fresnel lens has a minimum of the respective step, as shown more clearly in FIG. 4 .
  • the slope angle W 2 is at a minimum directly at the horizontal axis H 1 , wherein the slope angle subsequently increases steadily or continuously until the slope angle of the corresponding step is at a maximum at the vertical axis V 1 . If one continues to follow the circumference of the step, the slope angle W 2 decreases again until—having reached the horizontal axis H 1 again—it has another minimum. The slope angle W 2 then decreases again until—having reached the vertical axis V 1 again—it has another maximum.
  • the maximum of the slope angle W 2 of the steps increases in a vertical direction starting from the optical axis A, i.e. that starting from one step, the immediate next step that has a larger annular circumference of the step edge also has a larger maximum slope angle W 2 . This continues in the vertical direction or along the vertical axis V 1 .
  • the maximum of the slope angle W 2 along the vertical axis can vary from 3 to 10 degrees, preferably from 3 to 6 degrees.
  • the minimum of the slope angle W 2 of the steps increases in a horizontal direction starting from the optical axis A, wherein what was said in the previous paragraph applies vice versa to the course of the minimum in the horizontal direction.
  • the minimum of the slope angle W 2 along the horizontal axis H 1 can vary from 1 to 3 degrees.

Abstract

Illumination device (10) for a motor vehicle headlight, which comprises the following:
    • a first light module (100) for producing light distribution,
    • a bulb shield (300) having a bulb shield (300), which comprises an optically relevant shield edge (310) for producing a cut-off line,
    • a projection lens (400) with an optical axis (A), which is designed to image the light that can be produced by the first light module (100) in front of the illumination device (10), wherein the projection lens (400) is designed as a Fresnel lens, which Fresnel lens has a base body (410) and several annular steps (420) arranged on the base body (410), wherein each step (420) has a main surface (420 a) to project the light beams of the at least one light module (100) in front of the illumination device (10) and a sloping surface (420 b) extending from the base body (410) to the main surface (420 a), wherein the sloping surface (420 a) forms a slope angle (W2) to the optical axis (A), and wherein the main surface (420 a) and the sloping surface (420 b) form a step edge (430) in a common surface section line, wherein the slope angle (W2) varies continuously along the circumference of a step edge (430).

Description

  • The invention relates to an illumination device for a motor vehicle headlight, which illumination device comprises the following:
      • at least one first light module for producing light distribution having at least one first and one second light source, wherein the first light source is designed to emit light in a first emission direction, and wherein the second light source is designed to emit light in a second emission direction, wherein the first and the second emission direction form an angle greater than zero degrees to each other,
      • a bulb shield, wherein the bulb shield comprises an optically relevant shield edge for producing a cut-off line, wherein the first light module is arranged on an upper side of the bulb shield and cooperates in combination with the optically relevant shield edge of the bulb shield to produce light distribution,
      • a projection lens with an optical axis, which is designed to image the light that can be produced by the first light module in front of the illumination device, wherein the projection lens is designed as a Fresnel lens, which Fresnel lens has a base body and several annular steps arranged on the base body, which steps are arranged substantially concentrically to one another, wherein each step has a main surface to project the light beams of the at least one light module in front of the illumination device and a sloping surface extending from the base body to the main surface, wherein the sloping surface forms a slope angle to the optical axis, and wherein the main surface and the sloping surface form a step edge in a common surface section line.
  • Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle headlight having at least one illumination device according to the invention.
  • A Fresnel lens (more precisely: a Fresnel stepped lens) is an optical lens, which enables the design of large lenses with a short focal length without the weight and volume of conventional lenses.
  • The reduction in volume in the Fresnel lens occurs as a result of a division into annular areas. The thickness is reduced in each of these areas giving the lens a series of annular steps. Given that light is only refracted at the main surface of the lens, the angle of refraction is not dependent on the thickness, but rather on the angle between the two surfaces of a lens. The lens therefore retains its optical properties although the image quality is negatively impacted by the step structure, but this does not matter in many applications. Examples of this are illumination beam paths for all types of headlights.
  • However, the sloping surface of each step can lead to undesired stray light, which can cause problems in many applications, particularly in the motor vehicle headlight industry, in which precise legal requirements have to be met.
  • It is an object of the invention to provide an improved illumination device.
  • This object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the slope angle varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge.
  • It can be provided that the first and the second light source are arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device in a motor vehicle headlight.
  • It can be provided that the bulb shield has a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bulb shield is arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device in a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the bulb shield comprises an optically relevant shield edge for producing an asymmetrical cut-off line, wherein the first light module is arranged on an upper side of the bulb shield and cooperates in combination with the optically relevant shield edge of the bulb shield to produce dipped beam distribution.
  • It can be provided that the slope angle varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge in such a way that a change in the slope angle follows a sinusoidal course, wherein the slope angle of each step along a vertical axis which intersects the optical axis of the Fresnel lens has a maximum of the respective step, and wherein the slope angle of each step along a horizontal axis which intersects the optical axis of the Fresnel lens has a minimum of the respective step.
  • Surprisingly, it has become apparent that a slope angle that is larger in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction considerably reduces the stray light in the projected light distribution.
  • In general, the terms used in the following relating to a location or an orientation, such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “in a horizontal direction”, “in a vertical direction”, “top”, “bottom”, in front of”, “behind”, “below”, “above” etc. refer to a correct installation position of the illumination device in question in a motor vehicle headlight.
  • It can be provided that the maximum of the slope angle of the steps increases in a vertical direction starting from the optical axis.
  • It can be provided that the minimum of the slope angle of the steps increases in a horizontal direction starting from the optical axis.
  • It can be provided that the illumination device comprises at least one second light module having at least one light source to produce full beam distribution.
  • It can be provided that the second light module is arranged on a lower side of the bulb shield and helps to produce full beam distribution.
  • It can be provided that the minimum of the slope angle is 1 to 3 degrees along the horizontal axis.
  • It can be provided that the maximum of the slope angle is 3 to 12 degrees, preferably 3 to 6 degrees, in particular 6 degrees, along the vertical axis.
  • The object is also achieved by a motor vehicle headlight having at least one illumination device according to the invention.
  • The invention is explained below in more detail based on exemplary drawings. In the drawings,
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary illumination device in a vertical cross section, having a first and a second light module and a projection lens formed as a Fresnel lens, wherein the Fresnel lens has a base body with several steps arranged in a ring,
  • FIG. 2 shows the exemplary illumination device from FIG. 1 in a horizontal cross section,
  • FIG. 3 shows a detail view of a step in a cross section, and
  • FIG. 4 shows the front of the lens.
    •
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary illumination device 10 for a motor vehicle headlight, which illumination device 10 comprises a first light module 100 for producing dipped beam distribution having at least one first and one second light source 110, 120, wherein the first and the second light source 110, 120 are arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device 10 in a motor vehicle headlight, as can be seen in FIG. 2 .
  • The first light source 110 is designed to emit light in a first emission direction X1, wherein the second light source 120 is designed to emit light in a second emission direction X2, wherein the first and the second emission direction X1, X2 form an angle W1 greater than zero degrees to each other, as can also be clearly seen in FIG. 2 .
  • Furthermore, the illumination device 10 comprises a second light module 200 having at least one light source to produce full beam distribution.
  • Moreover, the illumination device comprises a bulb shield 300 having a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bulb shield 300 is arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device 10 in a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the bulb shield 300 comprises an optically relevant shield edge 310 for producing an asymmetrical cut-off line, wherein the first light module 100 is arranged on an upper side of the bulb shield 300 and cooperates in combination with the optically relevant shield edge 310 of the bulb shield to produce dipped beam distribution.
  • The second light module 200 is arranged on a lower side of the bulb shield 300 and is designed to help to produce full beam distribution.
  • Furthermore, the illumination device 10 comprises a projection lens 400 with an optical axis A, which is designed to image the light that can be produced by the first light module 100 in front of the illumination device 10, wherein the projection lens 400 is designed as a Fresnel lens, which Fresnel lens has a base body 410 and several annular steps 420 arranged on the base body 410, which steps 420 are arranged substantially concentrically to one another, as shown, among others, in FIG. 4 .
  • Each step 420 has a main surface 420 a to project the light beams of the at least one light module 100 in front of the illumination device 10 and a sloping surface 420 b extending from the base body 410 to the main surface 420 a, wherein the sloping surface 420 a forms a slope angle W2 to the optical axis A, and wherein the main surface 420 a and the sloping surface 420 b form a step edge 430 in a common surface section line, as shown in detail in FIG. 3 . The optical axis A shown in FIG. 3 is an axis parallel to the optical axis of the Fresnel lens and is intended to illustrate the formation of the slope angle W2.
  • The slope angle W2 varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge 430 in such a way that a change in the slope angle W2 follows a sinusoidal course, wherein the slope angle W2 of each step along a vertical axis V1 which intersects the optical axis A of the Fresnel lens has a maximum of the respective step, and wherein the slope angle W2 of each step along a horizontal axis H1 which intersects the optical axis A of the Fresnel lens has a minimum of the respective step, as shown more clearly in FIG. 4 .
  • If, for example, one goes clockwise around the annular course or circumference of the step edge 430 of a step 420 starting from the horizontal axis H1 (starting from FIG. 4 , which shows a front of the Fresnel lens), the slope angle W2 is at a minimum directly at the horizontal axis H1, wherein the slope angle subsequently increases steadily or continuously until the slope angle of the corresponding step is at a maximum at the vertical axis V1. If one continues to follow the circumference of the step, the slope angle W2 decreases again until—having reached the horizontal axis H1 again—it has another minimum. The slope angle W2 then decreases again until—having reached the vertical axis V1 again—it has another maximum.
  • Furthermore, the maximum of the slope angle W2 of the steps increases in a vertical direction starting from the optical axis A, i.e. that starting from one step, the immediate next step that has a larger annular circumference of the step edge also has a larger maximum slope angle W2. This continues in the vertical direction or along the vertical axis V1. The maximum of the slope angle W2 along the vertical axis can vary from 3 to 10 degrees, preferably from 3 to 6 degrees.
  • Furthermore, the minimum of the slope angle W2 of the steps increases in a horizontal direction starting from the optical axis A, wherein what was said in the previous paragraph applies vice versa to the course of the minimum in the horizontal direction. The minimum of the slope angle W2 along the horizontal axis H1 can vary from 1 to 3 degrees.

Claims (13)

1. An illumination device (10) for a motor vehicle headlight, which illumination device (10) comprises:
at least one first light module (100) for producing a light distribution having at least one first and one second light source (110, 120), wherein the first light source (110) is designed to emit light in a first emission direction (X1), and wherein the second light source (120) is designed to emit light in a second emission direction (X2), wherein the first and the second emission direction (X1, X2) form an angle (W1) greater than zero degrees to each other;
a bulb shield (300), wherein the bulb shield (300) comprises an optically relevant shield edge (310) for producing a cut-off line, wherein the first light module (100) is arranged on an upper side of the bulb shield (300) and cooperates in combination with the optically relevant shield edge (310) of the bulb shield to produce light distribution;
a projection lens (400) with an optical axis (A), which is designed to image the light that can be produced by the first light module (100) in front of the illumination device (10), wherein the projection lens (400) is designed as a Fresnel lens, which Fresnel lens has a base body (410) and several annular steps (420) arranged on the base body (410), which steps (420) are arranged substantially concentrically to one another, wherein each step (420) has a main surface (420 a) to project the light beams of the at least one light module (100) in front of the illumination device (10) and a sloping surface (420 b) extending from the base body (410) to the main surface (420 a), wherein the sloping surface (420 a) forms a slope angle (W2) to the optical axis (A), and wherein the main surface (420 a) and the sloping surface (420 b) form a step edge (430) in a common surface section line,
wherein the slope angle (W2) varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge (430).
2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second light source (110, 120) are arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device (10) in a motor vehicle headlight.
3. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the bulb shield has a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bulb shield (300) is arranged in a horizontal plane in an installed state of the illumination device (10) in a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the bulb shield (300) comprises an optically relevant shield edge (310) for producing an asymmetrical cut-off line, wherein the first light module (100) is arranged on an upper side of the bulb shield (300) and cooperates in combination with the optically relevant shield edge (310) of the bulb shield to produce dipped beam distribution.
4. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the slope angle (W2) varies continuously along the annular circumference of a step edge (430) in such a way that a change in the slope angle (W2) follows a sinusoidal course, wherein the slope angle (W2) of each step along a vertical axis (V1) which intersects the optical axis (A) of the Fresnel lens has a maximum of the respective step, and wherein the slope angle (W2) of each step along a horizontal axis (H1) which intersects the optical axis (A) of the Fresnel lens has a minimum of the respective step.
5. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum of the slope angle (W2) of the steps increases in a vertical direction starting from the optical axis (A).
6. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the minimum of the slope angle (W2) of the steps increases in a horizontal direction starting from the optical axis (A).
7. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device (10) comprises at least one second light module (200) having at least one light source to produce full beam distribution.
8. The illumination device according to claim 7, wherein the second light module (200) is arranged on a lower side of the bulb shield (300) and helps to produce full beam distribution.
9. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the minimum of the slope angle (W2) is 1 to 12 degrees along the horizontal axis (H1).
10. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum of the slope angle (W2) is 3 to 12 degrees along the vertical axis.
11. A motor vehicle headlight having at least one illumination device (10) in accordance with claim 1.
12. The illumination device according to claim 10, wherein the maximum of the slope angle (W2) is 3 to 6 degrees along the vertical axis.
13. The illumination device according to claim 10, wherein the maximum of the slope angle (W2) is 6 degrees along the vertical axis.
US18/024,570 2020-09-23 2021-07-22 Illumination device for a motor vehicle headlight Active US11873961B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20197840 2020-09-23
EP20197840.0A EP3974712A1 (en) 2020-09-23 2020-09-23 Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlight
EP20197840.0 2020-09-23
PCT/EP2021/070589 WO2022063460A1 (en) 2020-09-23 2021-07-22 Illumination device for a motor vehicle headlight

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20230313962A1 true US20230313962A1 (en) 2023-10-05
US11873961B2 US11873961B2 (en) 2024-01-16

Family

ID=72644036

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US18/024,570 Active US11873961B2 (en) 2020-09-23 2021-07-22 Illumination device for a motor vehicle headlight

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US11873961B2 (en)
EP (2) EP3974712A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2023542149A (en)
KR (1) KR20230037619A (en)
CN (1) CN116194710A (en)
WO (1) WO2022063460A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20230358385A1 (en) * 2020-09-25 2023-11-09 Zkw Group Gmbh Lighting Device for a Motor Vehicle Headlamp

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102022124019A1 (en) * 2022-09-20 2024-03-21 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Headlights for a motor vehicle

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4714161B2 (en) * 2007-01-23 2011-06-29 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle lamp unit
JP5537989B2 (en) * 2010-02-24 2014-07-02 スタンレー電気株式会社 Headlamp and bifocal lens
JP2013168346A (en) * 2012-01-18 2013-08-29 Konica Minolta Inc Auxiliary light source unit, and optical element
DE102012211613A1 (en) 2012-07-04 2014-01-09 Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh light module
DE102016123002A1 (en) * 2016-11-29 2018-05-30 Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING A PRESENT AREA AREA
CZ2017419A3 (en) * 2017-07-19 2019-01-30 Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o. Lighting equipment, in particular fog lights, for motor vehicles
TWI629430B (en) * 2017-12-22 2018-07-11 財團法人工業技術研究院 Headlight device
CN108036277B (en) * 2017-12-25 2020-10-27 上海小糸车灯有限公司 Car light and light path conduction device thereof

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20230358385A1 (en) * 2020-09-25 2023-11-09 Zkw Group Gmbh Lighting Device for a Motor Vehicle Headlamp
US11965632B2 (en) * 2020-09-25 2024-04-23 Zkw Group Gmbh Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN116194710A (en) 2023-05-30
KR20230037619A (en) 2023-03-16
EP4217650A1 (en) 2023-08-02
EP4217650B1 (en) 2024-04-03
JP2023542149A (en) 2023-10-05
US11873961B2 (en) 2024-01-16
EP3974712A1 (en) 2022-03-30
WO2022063460A1 (en) 2022-03-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
KR102134329B1 (en) Vehicle lamp
US11965632B2 (en) Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlamp
US8545073B2 (en) Lighting module and device for vehicle with improved high-beam function
US9714747B2 (en) Vehicle lamp
US10323816B2 (en) LED module and lighting device for a motor vehicle with several such LED modules
US20230313962A1 (en) Illumination Device for a Motor Vehicle Headlight
JP2018067535A (en) Lighting device generating stripe segmented beam for motor-vehicle headlamp
JP6516495B2 (en) Vehicle lamp
US20150131305A1 (en) Primary optical element, lighting module and headlamp for a motor vehicle
US10161592B2 (en) LED headlamp with refractive interface creating cut-off for vehicles
JP2011029183A (en) Lighting module for headlamp of motor vehicle, and headlamp comprising at least one module
JP2019153577A (en) Light module comprising primary optical element equipped with two forming layers
WO2017199841A1 (en) Projector-type headlamp
JP7471885B2 (en) Vehicle lighting fixtures
US3858040A (en) Motor vehicle headlamps
JP6556530B2 (en) Vehicle lighting
US20200103564A1 (en) Multi-focal collimating lens and headlight assembly for an automotive low beam
CN112997034B (en) Lighting unit for a motor vehicle headlight for generating a light distribution with a bright-dark boundary
US8851724B2 (en) Headlight for a motor vehicle
US11435047B2 (en) Front light module
JP6546284B2 (en) Lamp
JP2019032961A (en) Vehicular lighting tool
CN113242948B (en) Multi-focal collimating lens and dual function headlamp assembly
CN113825948A (en) Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlight
KR20220043782A (en) Lamp for vehicle

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ZKW GROUP GMBH, AUSTRIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MANDL, BERNHARD;HOELZL, ANDREAS;STEINKELLNER, JOHANN;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20230213 TO 20230214;REEL/FRAME:062874/0511

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: ENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: BIG.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED -- APPLICATION RECEIVED IN OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONS

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: PUBLICATIONS -- ISSUE FEE PAYMENT VERIFIED

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE